William j



(No Model.)

W. J. ROBERTS. TRAIN TIME ANNUNCIATOR.

PatentedApr. 7, 1896.

Hdifgzsszs @vggm AN DREW BvGRANAM. PHOYD-UTHOMASMNGTUN. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM J. ROBERTS, OF PAVNEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO E. A. BAXTER, JAMES R. KINOAID, AND G. W. VEBBER, OF SAME PLACE.

TRAIN-TIM E ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,609, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed July 17, 1895. Serial No. 556,277. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawnee, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention aims to provide a combined indicator and advertising medium to be placed in depots and at the stations of public conveyances for indicating the time of departure and arrival of any required train, vehicle, or conveyance, and which will at the same time bring to the attention of the traveling public the name and business of a merchant or concern availing itself of the facilities of this means of advertising.

The invention and the advantages thereof will be better appreciated on reference to the accompanying drawings and the referencenumerals thereon, in connection with the following description.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an indicator constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof, havinga portion of the housing broken away, so as to expose the dial-actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the means for i removably attaching the time-table segments to the dial.

The chart 1 will be subdivided by a series of vertical and horizontal lines into spaces 2, Which are intended to receive the advertising card or matter of merchants, professional and 'other persons desiring to bring their avocation or calling to the notice or attention of the public. A dial 3 is located in the rear of the chart 1 at any convenient point, and issubdivided by radial lines into segmental spaces 4, which receive the time-tables of various railroads, steamboat-lines, stage-coaches, or other public conveyances. An opening 5 vcorresponding in size to the segmental spaces 4 is provided in the chart 1 for exposing the required time-table when the same is brought in register therewith by rotating the dial 3 upon its axis. The time-table may contain any desired information as to the arrival and departure of conveyances for any desired which latter is tted in the frame 7 in any convenient manner. A backing 8 has a circular recess corresponding to the size of the dial 3, which latter is located and operates within the circular recess 9. The rear side of the recess is closed, thereby completely protecting the dial 3.

A shaft 10 is journaled in the frame 7 at a convenient point and extends transversely through a side bar thereof, and this shaft is provided at its front end with a knob or button 11 to be grasped when it is required to rotate the shaft in either direction and at its rear end with a'sprocket-wheel 12. A corresponding sprocket-wheel 13 issecured to the rear side of the dial 3, and a sprocket-chain 14 connects the sprocket-Wheels 12 and 13 and serves to transmit motion from the sprocketwheel 12 to the sprocket-wheel 13 when the shaft 10 is actuated to rotate the dial 3, so as to bring the required time-table opposite the sight or observation opening 5 in the chart.

A box or housing 15 is secured at its ends to the opposite side bars of the frame and incloses the sprocket-wheels 12 and 13 and the sprocket-chain 14 and serves to hold the parts Within the frame 7. attached to the box or housing 15 and enters an opening in the sprocket-wheel 13 and forms a bearing for the latter and maintains it in proper position at all times, and the front end of the pin obtains a purchase in the glass front 6. The inner end of the shaft 10is projected beyond the sprocket-wheel 12 and obtains a bearing in the box 15, thereby strengthening and bracing the said shaft 10.

Inasmuch as it is desired to change the timetables the latter are removably connected with the dial 3, and these time-tables 17 are segments of a circle which unitedly will cover the face of the dial 3 and are sufficiently stout to retain their position when properly attached to the dial. Lips 18 are pressed from the body of the dial and form an integral part thereof and are intended to extend over A pin or journal 16 is IOO the time-tables and retain the latter in place. After properly positioning the time-table the lips 18 are pressed thereupon, so as to retain it in the adjusted position. The dial 3 is of suitable sheet metal. Hence it will be understood that the lips 18 are possessed of sufficient rigidity to secure and retain the timetable in proper position.

The parts of the advertising-chart and indicator being assembled substantially as herein set forth, and it being required to have reference to a particular time-table thereof, the shaft l is rotated by means of the knob orbutton l1, which, through the mechanism previously described, will ,rotate the dial upon the journal 1G until the required time-table comes opposite the observation-opening in the chart, when the desired information can be obtained. By exposing only one time-table at a time the confusion attendant upon exposing a number of different time-tables synchronously is obviated. Hence the advantage of the construction and arrangement of the parts herein specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- The combined indicator and advertising medium constructed substantially as herein set forth, the same consisting of a frame havtables detachably connected with the dial by means of retaining-lips, a shaft journaled in the frame and having an operating-knob at its front end and a sprocket-Wheel at its inner end,a sprocket-chain connecting the sprocket- Wheel of the shaft With the sprocket-pinion of the dial, a housing inclosing the actuatinggearing and secured at its ends to the frame for retaining the several parts therein in Working relation, and a pin supported at its ends in the housing and the glass front, and having the dial mounted thereon substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

VVlLLlAlN/l J. ROBERTS. Vitnesses:

JAS. R. KINCAID, G. XV. VVEBBER. 

